Baggies stars past and present paid tribute to club masseur Derrick Jones at the Albion stalwart’s funeral following his death after a serious illness.

Halesowen-born Derrick died earlier this month and a host of football stars from across the UK joined staff from The Hawthorns club for an emotional memorial service and funeral at Powke Lane Crematorium in Rowley Regis.

Flags at The Hawthorns were also flown at half mast in memory of Derrick, 64, who was known as Del Boy by the Albion players.

He was a much-loved member of the Baggies’ staff, having worked at The Hawthorns since July 2005.

The players wore T-shirts with messages of support for him during the warm-up before the Stoke game last month and the whole squad paid their respects at the funeral.

Players including club captain Chris Brunt, Swedish international Jonas Olsson, defenders Liam Ridgewell and Gareth McAuley, goalkeeper Ben Foster and former stars Curtis Davies, Darren Moore and Jonathan Greening joined head coach Steve Clarke and his backroom team in the congregation.

Assistant coach Keith Downing said everyone on the playing staff had been left “devastated” by the masseur’s death.

He said: “Del’s health deteriorated so quickly. He was always a larger-than-life character.

“Derrick was known as the big masseur with his ‘Popeye’ arms. It’s knocked us off our feet how quickly Del’s health deteriorated, especially this side of Christmas,” added Downing. Defender Olsson said the players would miss their former colleague. He tweeted: “Football is not important on a day like this - RIP Del.”

Head coach Steve Clarke added: “It’s always sad when someone who has been at a football club for a number of years passes on.

“I remember first meeting him just after I joined the club when he was recovering from his first operation. He said to me ‘I’m not looking too good now but I promise I’ll be back in August.’ And he was. That’s a good memory.”

An Albion club spokesman added: “Our thoughts are with his wife Marion, family and friends at this difficult time.”